Montage Staff Benda Bilili RoundHouse

Staff Benda Bilili are a group of street musicians from the Congo, Kinshasa. The main members of the band are four senior singers and guitarists, who suffered from poliomyelitis in their youth and now move around in extraordinary custom-made tricycles. Their backing musicians consist of ex-abandoned street children who were taken under the guidance and protection of the older members of the band. Through their music and story they are trying to raise awareness about crimes against humanity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2006 their song 'Let's Go and Vote' (Allons Voter) was repeatedly played on the radio and television in the build up to the historic 2006 polls and is reportedly responsible for a 70% increase in voter turnout. Their story and progress has been documented in a feature length documentary on the band entitled 'Benda Bilili', which was selected by the Quinzaine des Réalisateurs at the 2010 edition of the Cannes Film Festival, and premiered to critical acclaim.